Engine valve-gear.



G..J. RATHBUN.

ENGINE VALVE' GEAR. APLlcATloN min 111211.21. 1914.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

GEORGE J. RATHBUN, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

ENGINE VALVE-GEAR,

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

Application filed December .21, 1914. Serial N o. 878,415.

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J.b RATHBUN, a citizen of the United States of America,

and a resident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements .in Engine Valve-Gear, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in valve gear for internal combustion engines, particularly' engines of the so-'called four cycle type composed of two cylinders, or of multiples of two cylinder units, the cylinders of each unit placed side by side.

The valve gear embodying my present in-- vention is of the roller path lever type and,

comprises means whereby a single reciproeating member operates the admission valves ofthe two vcylinders in alternation, and whereby another reciprocating member operatesthe exhaust valves of the two cylinders in alternation.

Mv invention consists in the novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter .described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The objects of my invention are to improve and simplify valve lgear of engines composed of two cylinders arranged side by side or of a multiple of such two' cylinder units, and to provide a valve gear which is compact and smooth and silent in operation. I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, and will then point out the novel features in claims. j

Figure 1 shows a transverse central vertical section through one of the engine cylinders of an engine of the type referred to, and Fig. 2 showsa vertical section of the engine on the irregular section line .fr-m of Fig. 1, z'. e., a section taken through the axes of the valve gearcross head guides, and also through'the axes of the cylinders. Fig. 3 shows a top view of the engine.

In the drawings, numerals 1 -1 designate the'engine cylinders, numerals 2 thepistons, and numeral 3 the'crank shaft, 4 the crank pin, and 5 5 the connecting rods.- 4 j l 6 designates a valve gear shaft driven from the crank shaft by gears 8 and Q,havf' ing the usual two to one ratio.

Numeral 10 designates a eccentriclfor operating theadmission val sof the twocylinders, and numeral 11 an eccentric for operating the exhaust valves ofthe two cyl.-

valves are all of the puppet type, and are provided with the usual springs tending to hold them closed.

14 designates a valve shaft extending across the heads of the two cylinders and mounted in suitable bearing brackets 15. Upon this shaft 14 is mounted loosely la double rocker comprising a hub 16 and two rocker-projections 17 and 18, one projecting to the rear and the other to the front of the engine, each of such arms 17 and 18 being a roller path ,lever which coacts with a corresponding lever, 19 or 20, connected with the stem of one or the other of the admission valves 12. This double rocker 16-17-18 further comprises a lever arm 21, connected by the valve rod 22 to the piston cross head 23 working in the guide cylinder 24, and thence connected by the eccentric rod 25v to the strap surrounding eccentric 10. It will be clear that as the eccentric 10 rotates and the rocker 16-17-18 is vibrated, the two admission valves, 12, will be opened in alternation.

The valve shaft 14 is provided with twoI rockers 26 and 27, one extending to the front and the other to the rear, each being a roller path lever arranged to coact with rsa a correspondinglever, 28 or 29, pivotally mounted, and connected to the stem of one or the other of the exhaust valves l13. Slaft 14Vis provided with a further lever arm 30 connected by valve rod 31 to piston cross head 32 working in guide cylinder 33-,and thence by eccentric rod 34 to the eccentric strap surrounding eccentric 11.

- It will beclear that, as the eccentric 11 ro.

tates, the two exhaust valves'willbe opened in alternation. It will also be clear that,

since the admission valves are operated by one eccentric, and the exhaust valves are operated by another eccentric, the timing of the exhaust valve functions may be changed valve functions; and vice versa. Conveniently the pivot for valve levers 19 and 29 may be a stationary shaft 31 mounted in suitable brackets on the cylinder heads, and

1 as desired with reference to the admission.

the pivot for valve levers and 28 may be suitable brackets onthe cylinder head.

While roller path levers are in themselves old, I am not aware of any prior valve gear of that type wherein a shaft, eX-

tending across the heads of tWo cylinders arranged side by side, and carrying roller path levers for operating two valves, has pivoted on it a structure carrying roller path levers for two other valves.

lt will be obvious that 'the valve gear herein illustrated and described is applicable to engines other than internal combustion engines of the four-cycle type; is applicable, for example, to air compressors and steam engines. l do not limit myself, therefore, to the application of my invention to internal combustion engines only.

What claim is:-

1L. A valve gear for engines and the like, comprising in combination a valve shaft, means for oscillating the same, and means operated bv said shaft for opening and closing a plurality of valves in alternation, a member mounted for oscillation on such shaft, means for oscillating the same and meansoperated by such oscillatory member for opening and closing two other valves in alternation.

f3, An engine comprising in combination a plurality of cylinders arranged side by side, and each having a valve, a valve opermember mounted for oscillation across the heads of said cylinders, and hav-- entame ing roller-path levers projecting in opposite directions, means for oscillating said member and other movahly mounted valve operating members engaging and coacting With said roller oath levers, and also engaging and adapted to operate said valves.

3. An engine comprising in combination a plurality of cylinders arranged side by side, inlet and exhaust valves for said cylinders, a valve shaft located across the heads of said cvlinders and mounted for oscillation, means for oscillating such shaft, roller path levers secured to said shaft and extending in opposite directions therefrom, movable valve-operating means enganging land arranged to be operated by said roller 'path levers, and engaging and arranged to operate certain of such valves in alternation, another valve-operating member mounted for oscillation on such shaft and provided with roller path levers projecting in opposite directions therefrom, means for oscillating such member. and movable valve operating means located to engage and to be actuated by the roller path leversand to engage and operate in alternation others of said valves.

ln testimony whereof E have signed this specification in the presence of two sub-` scribing Witnesses.

. GEORG-E J. `Witnesses:

EDWARD Ra'rmnn, li. o'. Tomlinson, sin 

